ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - DECEMBER 1996 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for December adjusted for seasonal, holiday,and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $208.2 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month but up 4.5 percent (+/-0.8%) from December 1995. Total sales for the 12 months of 1996 were 2.5 trillion, up 5.3 percent (+/-0.6%) from the 1995 total. The October to November 1996 percent change was revised from -0.4 percent(+/-0.7%) to -0.2 percent (+/-0.4%). Durable goods increased 0.5 percent (+/-1.3%) from November and were 5.2 percent above last year. Automotive sales were up 4.5 percent from a year ago. Nondurable goods increased 0.7 percent (+/-0.7%) from last month and were up 4.0 percent from December 1995. General merchandise sales were up 4.7 percent from last year while gasoline service stations were up 7.7 percent in the same period. The advance estimates are based on a small subsample of the Bureau's full retail sales sample. Estimates from the advance and the subsequent full survey can differ because of the earlier reporting in the advance and because of sampling variability present in both surveys. The Advance Monthly Retail Sales Report for January is scheduled to be released February 13, 1997 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--DECEMBER 1996 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1996 SIC Kind of business code Dec. Nov. Oct. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 208,185 206,972 207,487 Total (excl. auto group).. 157,299 156,423 156,436 Durable goods, total........ 84,948 84,559 84,881 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,953 11,130 11,211 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,596 8,580 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,202 1,211 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 50,886 50,549 51,051 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 47,871 47,514 47,901 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,035 3,150 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,465 11,453 11,485 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,729 5,694 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,874 4,921 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 123,237 122,413 122,606 53 General merchandise group stores.. 26,022 25,884 26,022 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,364 20,175 20,303 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 20,609 20,638 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 683 699 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,026 5,020 54 Food stores....................... 35,843 35,729 35,769 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,979 33,838 33,896 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,329 13,225 13,194 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,430 9,287 9,449 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 832 840 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,658 2,714 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,537 1,560 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,906 19,975 19,940 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,702 7,646 7,657 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,938 1,928 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,831 3,955 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 54,787 55,056 594 1995 SIC Kind of business code Dec.(r) Nov.(r) Retail trade, total........... 199,305 198,159 Total (excl. auto group).. 150,617 150,012 Durable goods, total........ 80,778 80,264 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,550 10,539 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,167 8,056 525 Hardware stores................. 1,168 1,183 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 48,688 48,147 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,699 45,158 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,989 2,989 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,198 11,211 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,554 5,565 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,763 4,739 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 118,527 117,895 53 General merchandise group stores.. 24,845 24,838 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,359 19,411 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 19,762 19,873 533 Variety stores.................. 654 639 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,832 4,788 54 Food stores....................... 34,792 34,561 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,957 32,743 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,378 12,164 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,204 9,241 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 834 851 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,802 2,778 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,554 1,586 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,617 19,572 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,129 7,173 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,928 1,917 5961 Total mail order................... 3,967 3,970 53,56,57, GAF................................ 52,861 52,881 594 TABLE 1B: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--DECEMBER 1996 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1996 SIC Kind of business code Dec. Nov. Oct. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 247,337 211,385 209,238 Total (excl. auto group).. 202,984 165,106 157,133 Durable goods, total........ 92,189 81,790 85,967 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 9,989 10,764 12,181 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,381 9,498 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,245 1,239 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 44,353 46,279 52,105 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 41,552 43,238 48,763 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 37,909 42,810 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,041 3,342 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 16,212 12,806 11,493 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,491 5,905 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 5,405 4,798 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 810 727 Nondurable goods, total..... 155,148 129,595 123,271 53 General merchandise group stores.. 44,279 30,732 25,669 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 35,373 24,311 19,917 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 24,773 20,277 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 762 702 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,659 5,050 54 Food stores....................... 38,073 36,028 35,577 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,644 34,109 33,693 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,076 12,934 13,484 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 15,248 10,761 9,522 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 954 828 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,985 2,760 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 4,470 3,729 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,595 1,491 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,747 19,436 20,219 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,527 7,478 7,580 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,027 1,886 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 5,114 4,473 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 63,466 53,998 594 1995 SIC Kind of business code Dec. Nov. Retail trade, total........... 237,994 202,359 Total (excl. auto group).. 195,690 157,990 Durable goods, total........ 87,086 77,921 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 9,578 10,213 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 7,154 7,879 525 Hardware stores................. 1,244 1,191 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 42,304 44,369 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 39,530 41,365 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 35,063 36,724 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,774 3,004 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 15,896 12,485 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,676 6,255 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 7,540 5,255 5722 Household appliance stores.... 877 768 Nondurable goods, total..... 150,908 124,438 53 General merchandise group stores.. 42,780 29,817 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 34,014 23,584 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 34,541 24,017 533 Variety stores.................. 1,156 732 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 7,610 5,501 54 Food stores....................... 38,048 34,297 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,626 32,481 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,130 11,872 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 15,180 10,616 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 1,579 975 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 4,533 3,111 565 Family clothing stores.......... 6,124 4,189 566 Shoe stores..................... 2,044 1,618 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,852 18,750 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,797 7,037 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,651 1,919 5961 Total mail order................... 5,954 5,332 53,56,57, GAF................................ 90,250 61,382 594 TABLE 2: PERCENT CHANGE IN ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--DECEMBER 1996 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Dec. Nov. 1996 1996 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Nov. Dec. Oct. Nov. CODE 1996 1995 1996 1995 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.6 +4.5 -0.2 +4.4 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.6 +4.4 0.0 +4.3 Durable goods, total........ +0.5 +5.2 -0.4 +5.4 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -1.6 +3.8 -0.7 +5.6 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +0.7 +4.5 -1.0 +5.0 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +0.8 +4.8 -0.8 +5.2 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.1 +2.4 -0.3 +2.2 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.7 +4.0 -0.2 +3.8 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.5 +4.7 -0.5 +4.2 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.9 +5.2 -0.6 +3.9 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -0.1 +3.7 54 Food stores....................... +0.3 +3.0 -0.1 +3.4 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.4 +3.1 -0.2 +3.3 554 Gasoline service stations......... +0.8 +7.7 +0.2 +8.7 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +1.5 +2.5 -1.7 +0.5 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.3 +1.5 +0.2 +2.1 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.7 +8.0 -0.1 +6.6 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Dec. Nov. 1996 1996 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Nov. Dec. Oct. Nov. CODE 1996 1995 1996 1995 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +17.0 +3.9 +1.0 +4.5 Total (excl. auto group).. +22.9 +3.7 +5.1 +4.5 Durable goods, total........ +12.7 +5.9 -4.9 +5.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -7.2 +4.3 -11.6 +5.4 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -4.2 +4.8 -11.2 +4.3 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -3.9 +5.1 -11.3 +4.5 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +26.6 +2.0 +11.4 +2.6 Nondurable goods, total..... +19.7 +2.8 +5.1 +4.1 53 General merchandise group stores.. +44.1 +3.5 +19.7 +3.1 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +45.5 +4.0 +22.1 +3.1 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +22.2 +3.1 54 Food stores....................... +5.7 +0.1 +1.3 +5.0 541 Grocery stores.................. +4.5 +0.1 +1.2 +5.0 554 Gasoline service stations......... +1.1 +7.8 -4.1 +8.9 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +41.7 +0.4 +13.0 +1.4 58 Eating and drinking places........ +1.6 -0.5 -3.9 +3.7 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +27.4 +8.3 -1.3 +6.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES-- 1996 Totals and Percent Change Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) SIC Kind of business code 1996 Percent Totals Change from 1995 Retail trade, total........... 2,465,835 5.3 Total (excl. auto group).. 1,860,671 4.5 Durable goods, total........ 1,007,753 7.6 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 132,613 6.4 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) (*) 525 Hardware stores................. (*) (*) 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 605,164 7.9 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 568,361 8.1 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (*) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) (*) 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 136,971 5.4 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) (*) 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) (*) 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (*) Nondurable goods, total..... 1,458,082 3.8 53 General merchandise group stores.. 309,226 4.2 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 241,085 4.4 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) (*) 533 Variety stores.................. (*) (*) 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) (*) 54 Food stores....................... 424,366 3.4 541 Grocery stores.................. 401,939 3.3 554 Gasoline service stations......... 157,321 6.2 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 113,306 3.0 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) (*) 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) (*) 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (*) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) (*) 58 Eating and drinking places........ 237,787 1.8 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 89,287 6.0 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) (*) 5961 Total mail order................... (*) (*) 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) (*) 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--DECEMBER 1996 (Press Release available without charge from Public Information Office, Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C. 20233). Survey methodology and measures of sampling variability are documented in the Advance Press Release. Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Ronald Piencykoski (301) 457-2713/2666.